Five Things to Do Every Year for North Texas Appliance Maintenance

Serving North Texas homeowners since 2012 – licensed and insured. You open the dishwasher, and it’s not draining. The fridge is making a noise that wasn’t there last week. The dryer takes two cycles to dry a load of towels. If any of that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Most appliance problems start small and get worse because nobody looked at them until they broke. Here’s a checklist you can run through in about fifteen minutes, once a year. It won’t fix everything, but it will catch the stuff that turns into a three-hundred-dollar service call.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Tips for Denton Homes

Pull the lint screen out. Don’t just wipe it. Run it under hot water with a little dish soap and scrub it with an old toothbrush. Dryer sheets leave a film that blocks airflow even when the screen looks clean. While the screen is out, shine a flashlight into the slot where it sits. You’ll likely see a wad of lint stuck deeper in the housing. Use a vacuum with a crevice tool to pull that out. Then disconnect the dryer vent hose from the wall and vacuum inside the duct as far as you can reach. A clogged vent is the number one cause of dryer fires. It also makes the dryer run longer, which wears out the heating element and the thermostat. If you can’t reach the whole vent run, or if the duct is crushed or kinked, call a tech. The cost of a new dryer or a house fire is a lot more than a service call.

| Fix | Cost | |—–|——| | Clean lint trap and vent yourself | $0 DIY | | Professional dryer repair and vent cleaning | $100–$200 |

How to Clean Refrigerator Coils in a Dusty Climate

Your fridge has condenser coils, usually on the back or underneath behind a grille. They’re the metal tubes that look like a radiator. When they get coated in dust and pet hair, the compressor has to work harder to dump heat. That shortens the compressor life and raises your electric bill. Pull the fridge out from the wall, or pop off the bottom grille. Vacuum the coils with a brush attachment. While you’re back there, check the drip pan. If it’s full of water, that means the defrost drain is clogged. That can cause water to leak onto the floor or ice to build up in the freezer. If the coils look clean but the fridge is still running constantly, the condenser fan motor might be bad. That’s not a DIY fix unless you’re comfortable with a multimeter. A failed fan motor can take the compressor with it, and a compressor replacement on a fridge that’s more than five years old usually means you’re buying a new fridge.

| Fix | Cost | |—–|——| | Vacuum dirty coils yourself | $0 DIY | | Service call for fan motor or compressor diagnosis | $150–$250 |

Dishwasher Drain and Filter Inspection for Frisco Kitchens

Most dishwashers have a filter at the bottom of the tub, under the spray arm. Pull it out and rinse it in the sink. You’ll find bits of food, broken glass, and sometimes a stray twist tie. A clogged filter makes the dishwasher drain slow and leaves food on your dishes. While the filter is out, check the drain hose where it connects to the garbage disposal or sink drain. If the hose is kinked or has a low spot, water sits in it and gets smelly. Also pop the kickplate off the bottom front of the dishwasher. Look for leaks around the drain pump and the water inlet valve. A slow drip will rot the subfloor before you ever see water on the kitchen floor. If you see any water, don’t run the dishwasher again until a tech looks at it. The cost of a new subfloor is ten times the price of a dishwasher repair or a new drain pump.

| Fix | Cost | |—–|——| | Clean filter and check drain hose yourself | $0 DIY | | Professional leak diagnosis and pump replacement | $150–$300 |

Oven Door Seal and Gas Burner Checks for Lewisville Homes

Open the oven door and look at the gasket around the edge. If it’s torn, flattened, or missing chunks, heat leaks out. That makes the oven work harder to hold temperature, which wears out the bake element and the temperature sensor. Close the door on a dollar bill. If you can pull the bill out without resistance, the seal is loose. For gas ranges, look at the burner caps. Make sure they’re sitting flat and the igniter is clean. If a burner clicks but doesn’t light, the igniter is weak or the burner ports are clogged with grease. A weak igniter on a gas oven is a safety issue—it can let gas build up before it lights. That’s a boom you don’t want. If the igniter sparks but the flame is lazy, clean the burner ports with a pin. If it still won’t light, call a tech. Don’t keep messing with it. A gas leak or a flash fire is not worth saving a service fee.

| Fix | Cost | |—–|——| | Replace oven gasket yourself | $15–$30 part | | Professional gas igniter replacement | $100–$200 |

Washing Machine Spin Cycle Noise Diagnosis

Run an empty load on the heavy-duty cycle. Stand near the machine during the spin. If you hear a thumping or banging, the load is unbalanced or the suspension springs are worn. If you hear a grinding noise, the bearings are going. If the machine shakes hard enough to walk across the floor, the leveling feet need adjusting. Grab the top of the machine and rock it. If it moves more than an inch, turn the feet until it’s solid. Also check the rubber door boot on front-loaders. Pull the gasket back and look for mold or small tears. A torn boot will leak water onto the floor, and that water can damage the door lock and the control board. If the machine is making noise that isn’t a loose coin in the pump, stop running it. A bad bearing can let the drum drop and crack the outer tub. That’s a new machine, not a repair.

| Fix | Cost | |—–|——| | Adjust leveling feet yourself | $0 DIY | | Professional bearing or suspension repair | $200–$400 |

When to Call a Tech

Most of these checks take less than ten minutes and cost nothing. If you find a problem you can fix—like a dirty coil or a clogged filter—do it. If you find a leak, a bad seal, a noisy motor, or anything electrical, stop. The parts you save by guessing wrong are not worth the risk of flooding your kitchen or starting a fire. We see people in Denton, Little Elm, Frisco, and Lewisville who tried to fix a simple leak with duct tape and ended up replacing the whole floor. Don’t be that guy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean my fridge coils in a dusty climate? In North Texas, with dry, dusty conditions and often pets, clean the coils every six months. If you have shedding pets, do it every three months. Once a year is the minimum, but you’ll see higher electric bills and shorter compressor life if you wait that long.

Is dryer vent cleaning really necessary every year? Yes, especially in Denton and surrounding areas where lint buildup is common. A clogged vent is the leading cause of dryer fires. Even if you clean the lint trap after every load, film and lint still accumulate in the duct. Once a year is the safe standard.

Can I use a store-bought drain cleaner in my dishwasher? No. Store-bought drain cleaners are too harsh for dishwasher seals, hoses, and pumps. They can eat through rubber gaskets and plastic parts. Instead, remove and clean the filter by hand, and flush the drain hose with hot water. If it’s still slow, call a tech.

What should I do if my washing machine is shaking during spin? First, check the leveling feet. Adjust them until the machine is solid on the floor and doesn’t rock when you push on it. If it still shakes, the suspension springs or shock absorbers may be worn. Running it like that can crack the outer tub, which means a new machine.

How do I know if my oven door seal needs replacing? Close the door on a dollar bill. If you can pull the bill out with no resistance, the seal is loose. Also look for tears, flat spots, or missing chunks. A bad seal wastes energy and makes the oven cook unevenly. Replacement gaskets are cheap and easy to install.

S&W Service & Repair LLC has been working on Whirlpool, Maytag, GE, LG, Samsung, KitchenAid, Frigidaire, Bosch, Kenmore, Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Viking for years. We also handle Old Republic Home Protection warranty work orders. If you’re in North Texas and something on this list looks wrong, give us a call or book online. We’ll get it sorted.

Call 940-286-4094 or book online at the link above. Don’t wait until the machine quits on laundry day.